ArticleParents
Myths and the grief cycle, explained
Busting the myths that make the early days harder than they need to be — starting with intelligence.
SupportNest Editorial
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A lot of early grief is grief over myths, not over your actual child. Clearing the myths often clears a surprising amount of the weight.
Myths worth dropping
- 'Autistic means not intelligent.' Intelligence is entirely separate from being autistic.
- 'A diagnosis is a ceiling.' It's a map, not a limit.
- 'They'll never…' Predictions made at diagnosis age out fast. Stay curious instead.
- 'It's caused by something we did.' It isn't, and that guilt helps no one.
When a wave of grief hits, ask: am I grieving my child, or a myth about my child? The answer often softens it.